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Research from Heriot-Watt University has been used by an organisation responsible for presenting research-based evidence to the US Congress.
A new study by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), which provides policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the US House and Senate, references work from the University's Smart Systems Group (SSG).
The report titled, Bitcoin, Blockchain and the Energy Sector, examines the popularity of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and the increasing energy demands of supporting these digital currencies.
The Smart Systems Group has rapidly established an international recognition as being at the forefront of data analysis and embedded intelligence within critical infrastructure and energy systems.
The report cites on various occasions an academic paper published earlier this year by a group of researchers led by Merlinda Andoni, Dr. Valentin Robu and Prof. David Flynn from the Smart Systems Group at Heriot-Watt, titled Blockchain technology in the energy sector: A systematic review of challenges and opportunities.
Their study was funded by the UK National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, a large-scale Research Council UK (RCUK) project in which Heriot-Watt is leading the Demand Modelling work package.
Blockchain technology has often been associated with energy-intensive crypto-currency mining. However, the HWU study highlights the potential of blockchains in future energy systems, by enabling emerging developments such as peer-to-peer energy trading among prosumers, Internet-of-Things and e-mobility applications.
Dr Valentin Robu, co-founder of the Smart System Group, said: “The Smart Systems Group has rapidly established an international recognition as being at the forefront of data analysis and embedded intelligence within critical infrastructure and energy systems. To be cited in an influential report for the US Congress really is testament to the professionalism of everyone involved in the SSG and is one of the many significant impacts we have made to industry, academia and global governments.”
Heriot-Watt's Smart Systems Group is at the forefront of research into Embedded Intelligence and Energy Systems. The multi-disciplinary team within the SSG, seeks to promote sustainability and create resilience in systems, organisations, networks and societies, through advancements in its research.